Updated 04-May-2020.
Mondo shtuff from around the internet, all about MOLCAJETE!
My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: molcajete and tejolote are stone tools, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle . they are often decorated with the carved head of an animal on the outside edge of the bowl . basalt molcajete is a hand-held grinding tool made of the same basalt material . small grains of basalt can be loosened from the surface when it is first used . uncooked white rice can some rice flour may remain ground into the surface of the molcajete, but this causes no problems . as the porous basalt is impossible to fully clean and sanitize, the rice flour is ready to use imitations are sometimes made of pressed concrete and volcanic rock particles . molcajetes are also used as dish service in restaurants and homes . it is not unusual for a dish to still be bubbling a half- Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-3702-9. OCLC 58975830. Coe, Sophie D. (1994). America’s First Cuisines. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-71159-X. OCLC 0292711557. Simmons, Marie (2008). Things Cooks Love: Implements, Ingredients, Recipes. Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0740769766.